Those less fortunate....

[jubilance1922]

I ALWAYS give money when I have it for the following reasons:

1. My uncle is homeless, mostly because he's schizophrenic and refuses to take his meds, so a facility won't take him. Imagine driving down the street and seeing your only brother begging on the side of the road (its happened many times to my father).

2. I feel compelled to give charity to anyone less fortunate than me, no matter their situation. It's not my place to judge is someone is asking for money for "the right reasons". If I have $5 and someone needs it, I'm gonna give it. I believe that I'll get that money back tenfold in the form of blessings.

[sugar and spice]

Originally posted by BobbyTheDon
Ok this REALLY upsets me. I had a friend name Laura whose father lost his job. He was certainly not a pedophile, rapist, wife beater. He was an honest man who got laid off. They were homeless for a while, couldn't find a job. Luckily Laura got a job at the mall. But she got fired once her boss foundout she was homeless. Ok fine, sure maybe I'm talking about an episode from "Saved By The Bell". But still, you shouldn't generalize and say that about men.

I laughed.


I don't usually give money to strangers because I tend to carry a decent amount of cash on me (uhhh, don't stalk me, GC) and I don't think it's a great idea to whip out a wallet full of cash in the middle of the street. Sometimes I give some if I know I'm not carrying much or if I have some money in my pocket instead of my wallet.

It has nothing to do with whether or not I think the person is "worthy." I think it's really weird when people are like, "I'd give them money but only if I knew it was going towards food." Either give or don't give, but don't act like you're worthy of judging who's worthy of "saving" and who's not.

I'm actually more likely to give someone money if they're honest about where it's going. Or if they make up a good, entertaining story about how ninjas killed their family and they need to money for karate lessons in order to get revenge.

[valkyrie]

Originally posted by sugar and spice
I'm actually more likely to give someone money if they're honest about where it's going. Or if they make up a good, entertaining story about how ninjas killed their family and they need to money for karate lessons in order to get revenge.

Yes. One time when I was getting gas, this dude approached me and gave me this big long story about how he had a van full of kids who were going to the nunnery or some shit, and they ran out of gas, and he needed money so he could get the children to wherever the hell they were going. It was the biggest crock I've ever heard and not even entertaining. I mean, don't approach me and act like I'm an idiot, 'k? Not to mention that approaching someone who is filling up at the gas station and stuck listening to your dumbass story is kind of vile.

[Dionysus]

Originally posted by Senusret I
I've been trying to figure out a really nice way to call you a bitch for the past few minutes, but I can't do it. Sorry.

There's just no nicer way to put it.

Yeah, bitch is ignant, y'all.

As for the original question. I have never been approach by a homeless person. Damn I'm sheltered.

[sugar and spice]

Originally posted by valkyrie
Yes. One time when I was getting gas, this dude approached me and gave me this big long story about how he had a van full of kids who were going to the nunnery or some shit, and they ran out of gas, and he needed money so he could get the children to wherever the hell they were going. It was the biggest crock I've ever heard and not even entertaining. I mean, don't approach me and act like I'm an idiot, 'k? Not to mention that approaching someone who is filling up at the gas station and stuck listening to your dumbass story is kind of vile.

Right. I've been approached by people with stories like that . . . I mean, if you're going to lie to my face, at least make me laugh, you know?

[ISUKappa]

No. I've never been personally approached where we live (but have seen people with signs on street corners), and I hardly ever have any cash on me.

I'm not entirely comfortable with it and would prefer to donate to a shelter or other service.

[Tom Earp]

Many Many Times.

When I owned a Liquor store, this guy would sit with a sign and say work for food. Hell, He never worked and would bring the food to My store and trade for cheep wine.

Chili Willie wanders the streets and gets far afield, I would never consider giving Him Money and He doesnt ask. Has More Money than I do!

Setting at the bank one morning reading a book when some dude comes up to my side window say He just got out of the Nut House and needed money for His Medication, right, what kind of drugs.

Always have people coming up or to the store saying they need money for gas. BS.

Had a guy scare Little Old ladys when He came up to their cars at the Hair Butcher place next door want to give a relgious publication and would ask for a donation. Ran his ass off.

A guy in KC was pan handleing at the Country Club Plaza and the city made a City Ordinance against Him!

Hell, He was seen in many citys in the Mid-West area.

These people many times are just scammers and can work but make a better living not working and they dont want to.

I am not saying, that all people are like that so do not take it as such.

[KSUViolet06]

I prefer to give food if there is restaurant nearby, that way I don't have to worry about someone possibly using my $ for drugs/alcohol.

[KillarneyRose]

Used to have a little now I have a lot, I'm still KR, KR from the block.

That was really random. I'm all likkered up from my NyQuil.

But yeah, I tend to try and be generous because I remember what it was like growing up with pretty much nothing and it plain out sucked. I figure if someone wants to use the couple dollars I give them for a forty instead of buying something to eat, then they're gonna be hungry. But my not helping them out isn't going to cause them to have some kind of epiphany.

That said, I'm not putting down people who choose not to give money. It is a completely personal choice.

[lifesaver]

Originally posted by KillarneyRose
Used to have a little now I have a lot, I'm still KR, KR from the block.

Hahhahah. I saw that and the absolute first thing I thought was, "oh god, she's lit, this is gonna be GREAT if shes posting all hammered." lol. Yeah, I'm just waiting for KR to use the word 'crunk' in a sentence. but yeah, homeless people suck. lol.

[kstar]

There is this homeless man that has a dog that likes to crash in an old hunting shack in the woods near my house, when he isn't being run out by the state park police. I see him all the time walking his dog along the lake, and fishing in the nicer weather.

Last winter, I was in the closest gas station/grocery/tackle store (oh the joys of living on the edge of town) he walked in and grabbed a can of dog food and a can of spaghetti-os and walked up to the counter. I didn't hear the conversation as I was looking for a caffine fix, but when I approached the counter, he was sliding the spaghetti-os to the side and paying for just the dog food. He walked outside and opened it and let his dog eat.

I couldn't stand it, I bought him the spaghetti-os. He put up a bit of a fuss, saying that it was okay as long as his dog ate, but I insisted. He then took it and ate it immediately, thanking me.

I frequently leave canned dog food for him on his lake side path, in the hopes that he will use whatever money he has to feed himself. Sometimes I add a box of spaghetti-os, just so he knows it's okay. A few days after I do that, a driftwood carving appears on our dock.

[KSig RC]

Originally posted by kstar
I frequently leave canned dog food for him on his lake side path, in the hopes that he will use whatever money he has to feed himself. Sometimes I add a box of spaghetti-os, just so he knows it's okay. A few days after I do that, a driftwood carving appears on our dock.

Spaghetti O's come in a box???

-RC
--Not calling bullshit, just making sure we live on the same planet

[Glitter650]

I live in San Francisco... which I believe has one of the highest populations of homeless people in the country.. so I get hit up A LOT... and I have to say, I never give them money and I don't feel bad about it.
I donate to charities and do volunteer stuff, I also vote for people who make homelessness part of their campaign platform. Some of the people get kinda agressive and scary... so I find it easier to ignore them and help in other ways.

[tld221]

wow some of you are REALLY SHELTERED.

when i was younger (not long ago, like in h.s.) i used to have the attitude of "why cant they just get a job instead of standing around..."

but ive come across homeless people from many walks of life. yes some of them are drunks/druggies, but really if you didnt have anything, chances are that is what youre gonna turn to. many people on the train asking for change are honestly ppl who got laid off or their wife/gf got pregnant and they need money for the baby. sometimes ppl are just looking for train fare. asking for money or support is the hardest thing to do--thats a lot of pride to swallow. do you think they would be doing it if they didnt have to or need to?

it is NOT easy to "just get it together and get your life on track." not all soup kitchens are do-gooders and are very snubby to homeless ppl. ive seen it from workin in soup kitchens.

and lastly, homeless people arent intrinsically homeless. they are people like you and i, and many of you have horrible pre-conceived notions of what that actually is. these people are not alcohol-infested, psychologically-messed up, cant-do-shit fuckups. they have or may have had families, friends, etc and maybe lived priveledged lifes like some of you did.

think about that as you sip your chai lattes and compare that to the similar one-dimensional stereotype of greeks that most of you despise.

<<coming from someone who was "homeless" for 1.5 years through college, as well as a person who kinda knows their shit about this>>

oh, to answer the question, yes, i do give to "beggars and homeless." another man gave this guy $5 and i couldnt just walk past him like i hadnt seen him.

[kstar]

Originally posted by KSig RC
Spaghetti O's come in a box???

-RC
--Not calling bullshit, just making sure we live on the same planet

A box has like, 8 cans in it, you can buy them like that from Sam's for cheap.